Thread-controlling mechanism for sewing-machines.



Patented Jan. 18,1910.

2 SHEETSBIIBET 1.

T. G. PLANT. 4 THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MAGHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 26, 1907. RENEWED APR. 14, 1909.

MIA 6556.-

T. G. PLANT.

THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 26, 1907. RENEWED APR. 14, 1909.

946,783. Patented Jan. 18,1910.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q H H 2 ATTY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS G. PLANT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

THREAD-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

Application filed. December 26,1907, Seria1.No. 408,015. Renewed April 14, 1909. Serial No. 489,891.

To all whom may concern: Be it known that LTHOMAS G. PLANT, a

citizen of the United States, residing at 1305- ton, in the county .of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Thread-Controlling-Mechanism for Sewing-Machinespf which the following'description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, 1s a S'PGClfiCEltlOII, like. characters on the drawings representing like parts.

tending to rupture the thread particularly at the moment ofsetting the stitch, and wherein the tension may be released as desired. f j

The general objects of the invention and itscharacterizing features will be best made clear by the following description and drawmgs of one embodiment thereof selected for illustrative purposes. and asapplled to a wax thread sewing machine.

. In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine for sewing shoes provided with one selected form of the present lnvention, only suiiicient parts 'ofsuch machine being illustrated as are desirable in showing th relation thereto of the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on line w-.'r, Fig. 3.

- Fig.3 is-a sectional view in detail on the line yy, Fig. 1. Fig. lis a detached. detail, partly in section, of the take-up shaft and lts adjuncts. Fig-5 is a detached view of a modified form of auxiliary take-up arm.

Fig. 6 is,a detail View in side elevation of partscomprising the tension release.

Mounted, as usual, in a supporting frame, as A, is the main driving shaft 1 of a shoe sewing machine which may be driven by well known suitable means, unnecessary to ill'us trate, said shaft carrying an edge cam .2, and face cam 3.. The 'main-take-up arm lprojects from the head 5 of a sleeve Gha'vinga suitable bearing in the frame A, Fig. 4, and

surrounding the auxiliary take-up" shaft 7 To the opposite end of the sleeve 6 is secured the arm 8 by means of the clampingv jaws 9, .9, and set screw .10, a washer 11 being'inter.

posed between the frame A and aims-"6.1 The arm 8 is-connecte'dto' the actuating -lever 12 1 by means of a link 13, said actuating lever extending to'and being suitably pivoted at.

tle. if any. tension.

the free end of the main take-up arm scarf rying the thread guiding roll 15 to be raised and lowered, the purpose of which, as well understood by those skilled in the art, is to provide suiiicient thread for the usual needle to make the stitch, and then on its upward movement to tighten or set the stitch.

In sewing shoes it is'desirablethat the stitch be set with a strong pull, but as such 70 due to the upward movement of the take-up arm 4 1s liable to break the thread; therefore,

machines operate rapidly; the sudden shock one'of the-purposes of the present invention is to entirely overcome this'liability, as will now be ex lained.

The auxiliary shaft 7, Fig. 4,-is preferably provided with a hub 16 having a hearing against the head 5 of the main take-up sleeve (S and adjacent its opposite end it is provided: with a collar 17. clamped thereto by a set screw 18, one end of a light spring 19 bein secured to said collar and the opposite end.-

at20 to the main take-up sleeve.

Secured to or formed integral withthe hub 16 of the auxiliary take-up shaft are the series of projections 21, 22, and 23-, .con-

stituting what, for identification, may be ported from said auxiliary take-up head by a spring arm 24 is the thread guiding roller 25, about which the sewing thread passes. Projecting from the auxiliary take-up headisa leaf spring 26 which bears upon the spring arm 24 as indicated in Fig; 1. If desired an additional yielding connection between the roller 25and the auxiliary takeup head may be secured by means such -as the spring 27, having one'end connected to a pin 28, on the auxiliary take-up head, andthe other adjustably connected to the lug. 29 projecting from the roller casing,'as indicated in Fig. 1 From the construction thus described, it will be noted that the roller 25 of the auxiliary take-up, issupported from 105 connection, and that, the light. spring 19,-

the take-up head byfa spring or yielding Fig. 4, normally maintains the auxiliary take-up in the position indicated in-Fig. 1, the thread 30 being at such time under littermed the auxiliary take-up head. Sup- I ing effect of its spring connection with said take-up head. In other words, the action of the auxiliary take-up is at all times'yield- .ing, regardless of the Contact of stops 31 and 33', and this yielding action varies inversely as theauxiliary take-up responds to the increasing tension on the sewing thread. Various other forms of the auxiliary takeup may be employed, as, for instance, that illustrated in rig. 5 wherein the auxiliary take-up head has a rigid arm 34 extended therefrom t'o'which is jointed at 35 a roller support 36, having an arm 37 to which one end ofa spring 38 may be connected, the

other end of said spring 38 being secured to the take-up head. A stop 39 on the arm 34 is adapted to be engaged by a lug 40 extended rearwardly from the roller support to limit the downward pull of the roller 25 by the spring 38. In any case, however, the action of the auxiliary take-up is yielding both prior to the engagement of the stops 31 and which limit the turning movement of the auxiliary take-up head, and thereafter; the yielding action of the auxiliary take-up after the engagement of said stops gradually increasing as the tension upon the 1 thread increases, yet never presenting a positive stop.

During the sewing operation, one of-thefunctions of the so-called take-up in this, 'characterof machines is to draw the stitch tight or setit, and also to pull from the thread supply an amount of thread substantially equal to that used-in making the previous stitch to be used in making the next succeeding stitch. It is desirable at the mo.- men't-of stitch setting, therefore, that the fullstrain or tension necessary to accomplish that end be attained without shock or positive resistance, as has heretofore been .the case in machines of this class, and when the stitch has been properly set, to quickly draw thread for the next stitch by a continued movement of the take-up devices. Where, however, the supply has to be drawn by the unassisted action of the said take-up devices, thesuddenadditional strain necessary to start the thread from the supply is calculated to break the thread. The present invention, therefore, contemplates means for assisting the take-up devices in this action and to start the thread in its forward movement, so that the take-up devices act upon the already forwardly moving thread in pulling from the supply sufficient for the next stitch, thus avoiding the sudden jerk or shock incident to sudden movement of a body from a, state of rest. Referring to Fig. 3, the tension wheel 41 is mounted to turn upon a stud 42 projectin from. a bracket 43 erected upon the machine frame, said tension wheel .41 having a barrel 44 terminating in a friction disk iai, and being movable longitudinally of the stud 42 toward and from afixed disk 46, suitable friction material 47 being interposed between said disks and 46. .Atits outer end portion the stud 42 is screw threaded, as at 48, and is engaged by an ad justing hand wheel 49. Fixed upon the stud 42, so as to be non-rotative but movable longituelinal thereon, is the friction disk or member 50, the sleeve portion 51 of which is provided with a pm 52, which passes through an elongatedslot 53 formed in the stud 42. A coiledspring 54 is interposed between the adjusting hand wheel 49 and the disk or member 50, the normal tendency of 90 which is to force the disk or member toward the tension wheel 41 and against a friction pad 55 interposed between-a plate 56 secured to an extended portion 57 of said tension wheel and said friction disk 50. The extended portion 57 of the tension wheel 41 forms one member of a clutch, which maybe of any desired character to discharge the function to be described, said clutch, Fig. 2, in the form selected for illustrative purposes being of a well known character. As shown by Fig. 2, the extended portion 57 of the tension wheel 41 has a series of tapering recesses 58 in each of which is seated a ball or roller. 59 normally pressed toward the smaller end ofthe recess by a spring 60. Surrounding the extended portion 57 and said balls or.rollers is a collar 61 forming the other member of the clutch and having an extended arm or lug 62 provided with a stud 63 adapted to be engaged between two projections 22 and 23 of the auxiliarytakeup head. Obviously, rotative movement impartedto the collar 61 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, will cause the balls or rollers 59 to bite or bind in the tapered recesses 58 and impart'corresponding rotative movement to the portion 57 of the tension wheel 41, and, consequently, tothe tension wheel itself about which the thread 30 passes from the conduit 64. The thread 30 from the source of supply passes through the conduit 64, then one or more times about the tension wheel 41, under the auxiliary take-up roller 25, over the main take-up roller 15-to'the work S, and, as the main take-up rises to set or tighten the stitch, it will first take up any slack in the thread, gradually tightening the thread until, in the continued upward movement of'the ma'n take-up due to start the auxiliary take-up against the light force of the spring 19, the l .23 of the auxiliary take-up Y the auxiliary takeup to yield, owing to its.

' movement of the-take-up todraw thread .from'tho supply will 20; '41 to start the thread forward'to respond to stops 31 and 33, and,;for purposes of identia positlve'resistance to the T5, and acted upon 2 mg tension upon the'tension wheel 41. Conof the auxiliary take up in' may' be thread movement.

to maintain the thread free from tension I until after the needle has received its first actuator when once the latter has been moved into positlon,

the direction ofrthe arrow, Fig. 6, andlower 1 the action of cam 3, the thread tension will ug. or projection head coming in contact with the pin63 of the clutch member 61.

yieldingly held from movement by the worktinued upward movement of the main takeup in setting the stitch will, therefore, cause spring supporting arm, thus relievin any sudden shock or strain upon the thread, and the auxiliary take-up will continue'to thus yield or cushion the strain on the thread un -til,'as the stitch is set, the continued upward cause takeeup, while still yielding, clutch member 61 and turn the I the auxiliary to move the tension 'wheel This clutch member, however, is

vpivoted to the frame 86 with a tension controlling rod 87, Fig. 1. v

89, the. inner the demands of the 'takeup in drawing threa for the next stitch. This movement starting the 3 thread tension wheel 41 is limited by the fication, such movement of the tension wheel --herein'refer1'ed to as an initial .Thus it is to. be noted that the 'auxiliarytake-up.at all-times is" yieldingly movable,- either by virtue of the light spring 19, the spring supporting arm of the auxiliary take-up roller, or the yielding nature of the tension Wheel 41, andthat at no time does the auxiliary take-up present pull exerted upon it by the threadf It is desirable at times to release the thread tension and permit the thread to rend freely from the source of supply, as in removing'the shoe from themachine, andloopand as it makes its retracting stroke. One form of mechanical devices embodying this feature of the invention is shown by 'Figs. 1 and6, wherein 7O is.,an actuator pivoted at 71 to the machine frame, and com nected to a suitable treadle by a rod 72. This actuator, Fig. 6,.has a nose or projection 73' adapted to be engaged by a trip catch 74, pivoted to tending to hold the trip-catch 74 in engaging or locking relation with the noseof the q as indicated-in Fi 6, the other end portion of the trip-catci; 74 being provided 'with a roll 77 adapted to ride upon the cam 2 secured tothe-main shaft '1, Figs. 1 and 6. A spring 78 having one end. secured at 79 to-theactuator-and" the other end securedto the main frame, as i ventions mechanical retracting 'matically machine.

the machine frame at by a spring. 76 normally at 80, normally acts to turn the a'ctuator in the nose 73 of the actuator, as indicated by. dotted lines in Fig. 1, the end 81 of the trip upper edge cated. I

Jointed to the actuator at- 82' is a'rod 83, which connects the actuator with a lever 84' at 85 and jointed at Movable longitudinally in the-bore 88 of the stud shaft 42, Fig. 3, is a tension release rod or right hand end viewing Fig. 3, bearing .directlyagainst the pin 52 secured to the sleeve of disk 50. At its op-- vposite end the tension -rod 89 is adapted to be engaged by the toe. 90 of a release dog 91, pivoted to'the bracket 43.at 92, and hav- .ing its free end connected by a suitable pin 93 with the tension controllingrod 87.

' Obviously, changes may be made'in the particulars describedas one form of theinembodiment, the characteristics of which arethat upon depressing the treadle rod 72, have its nose 73 raised to be engaged by the end-'81 of the trip catch 74, and the lever 84 will be moved to cause the dog 91 to push upon the pin 52 and free the tension wheel .41 from control of the-friction disks. With the parts in this position the thread may be drawn freely from the thread supply without substantial resistance by the tension the parts will be retained in this wheel, and position by the trip-catch until the riser 94 of the cam 2 passes under the roller 77 of the trip-catch, whereupon the end 81 of the trip-catch will free the actuator 70 and'per- 'mi-t the parts to resume their original position as shown in Figs. .1 and3 with the tension wheel 41 in control of the tension disks.

From the construction described it will be noted that the invention contemplates the manual releaseof the thread tension, as, for instance, upon stopping the machine, and a lock orcatch to hold the parts-1n position with the tension thus released, so that upon starting a new piece of work the needle may receive its first loop fof thread and make its stroke through the leather with the thread released from'tension, and that thereafter the thread tension maybe autorestored by a moving part of the What I claim is '1. In a'shoe nation of a main take-up,

to limit the movement of said auxiliary takeup head, and a spring to permitjth'eauxiliary thread-guide to yield after the limit of the head has been reached.

sewing machine, the -c ombian auxiliary take--' 'up head, an auxiliary thread 'g'uide, a stop catch74- at such times riding on the curved portion of the actuator, as ll'ldlwthe actuator 70 will movement asdefi dfb o 4 2. In a shoe sewing machine, the combination of a main take-up, an auxiliary takeup head, a support therefor, a stopto limit I to permit the auxiliary take-up to yield after means actuated by the auxi take-up to draw upon the next stitch.

the limit of its movement as defined by said stop has been reached.

3. In a shoe sewing machine, the combination of a main take-up, an auxiliary takeup comprising ahead, an auxiliary take-up guide, a'spring controlled arm carrying said guide, a stop on the machine frame and a cooperating stop on the auxiliary take-up head, one of said stops being adjustable, to limit the movement of said head, the spring controlled arm yielding after the limit of head movement has been reached.

4. In a shoe sewing machine, tion of a main take-up, an auxiliary take-up guide, 'an auxiliary take-up head, a spring arm 24 secured to said head and carrying said" take-up uide, fixed and adjustable stops, one or w ich is on themachine frame and the other on the auxiliary take-up head, said stop limiting the movement of the said head and spring arm 24 permitting yielding movement of the said guide after the limit of head movement has been reached.

5. In a machine ,of the character described, the combination of thread tension means, a main take-up, an auxiliar takeup, and iary take-up to give initial forward movement of the thread from the source of supply after the stitchhas been set. I

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of thread tension means, a main take-up,me'ans for actuating said takeup to setthe stitch and draw thread for the next stitch, and means to impart initial forward movement to the thread from the source of supply at and prior to the pull-off action of the take-up to enable the mam thmoving thread for 7. In a machine of the character described,

. the combination of thread tension means, a

, tion of thread tension means a main take-up, means for actuating said ma n take-up, and means to impart -1I1itl8.l forward movement to the thread tension means after the stitch is set to enable the main takeup by its continued movement to draw thread for the next stitch.

8. In a shoe sewing machine, a thread tension wheel, a main take-up and its actuating means, an auxiliary take-up having yielding movement to cushion the pull exerted on the thread by the main take-up, a clutch associated with the thread tension wheel, and

connections. between the clutch and the auxiliary take-up to give initial movement 'to the thread tension wheel. V I 9. In a shoe sewing machine, the combinam'ain takeup, an auxiliary take-up associated there'- with, means actuated by the'auxiliary take the combinathe machine,

to the. auxiliary take-up up "to give initial forward movement to the thread from the source'of supply, and a stop to limit the action of-the auxiliary take-up in giving the thread movement.

10. A shoe sewing machinecomprising, in combination, a main take-up and its actuating means, a thread tension device, an auxiliary take-up guide, a' spring controlled arm supporting said guide, and means under control of the auxiliary take-up guide operative to impart movement to the thread tension device and giveinitial movement to the thread after the stitch setting tension has been reached.

11. In a shoe sewing machine, the combi nation of tensionmeans to produce tension upon the thread during the operation of tor to relieve the action of the tension means upon the thread, a catch to maintain the tension means provide free thread for the first stitch formation, and automatic means operative after the first stitch has been formed to trip the catch and restore the tension means to its action upon the thread.

12. In a shoe'sewing machine, the combinationof tension means to produce tension upon the thread during the operation of the machine, treadle actuated means to relieve thread, a catch to maintain the tension means thus f'ictionally inoperative while are machine is at rest, and means operative subsequent to starting the machine to trip thecatch and restore the action of the ten sicn means upon the thread.

13." In a ,shoesewing machine,-a main take-up, an auxiliary take-up comprising an auxiliary take-up head movable about its axis, a spring 19 normally acting to-hold the'auxihary head in one position of its rotative movement, a spring arm 24 secured at one end to said auxiliary take-up head and carrying an auxiliar take-up guide 25,- and a'spring 26 securet to the said head and bearing on the spring arm 14. In a shoe sewing machine, a main take-up, means for operating it, an auxiliary take-up comprising a head movable about its axis, a spring 19 connecting the main and auxiliary take-ups,- a spring arm 24 secured head and carrying a take up guide, a stop to limit rotative movement of theauxiliary take up head, and as ring additional to the arm 24 to yielding y control the movement of said arm 24 about the auxiliary take-up head; i

In testimonywhereof, I have signed my name to this specificaticmin the presence of witnesses.

two subscribing THOMAS G. PLANT.

Witnesses:

Invme U. TOWNSEND, WARREN G. Odom.

meanscontrolled by the operafunctionally ineffectual and the action of the tension means upon the 

